Over recent years, the world has seen a massive rise in the number of small businesses and startups. While this is a positive trend in many ways, it does bring its own set of challenges with it.

These days, almost every business is heavily dependent on technology and global connectivity. As a result data security, confidentiality and accessibility are some of the major challenges that small businesses are facing today. Effective use of data, in an increasingly connected business environment, has also become an important need. Fortunately, the rise in these challenges has given way to innovative solutions as well. As a result, services like cloud storage have become some of the most sought after business needs. Cloud storage services take away the burden of data management from their customers’ hard drives and places the data into secure, well-managed and highly connected storage devices.

Here are 7 major benefits of cloud storage for small businesses.

1. Foolproof Data Security

As a small business, you do not have the luxury of investing thousands of pounds in securing your data. But you can still protect it with cloud storage services. Leading cloud storage companies take several security measures to ensure that your data remains perfectly safe. Here are a few of them:

All the data is maintained in your cloud storage in encrypted form that can only be accessed with a unique encryption Id.

Regular virus scans and security checks are run on your data to eradicate any potential threats.

Multiple security layers are implemented on your data to ensure that only you and your authorised users can gain access to the it.

2. Regular Data Backups

One of the most common reasons for data losses, is the unavailability of a properly managed data backup system. By using a cloud storage service, you eliminate the need of managing backups of your data. Your local storage is directly connected with the cloud service where multiple backups of your data are created at different locations that are completely synced with each other. The moment you make any changes to your data, it is reflected in the backup storage as well.

3. Consistency and Reliability

When not protected properly, access to your data can be affected in a number of ways including power failure, internet connectivity issues, natural disasters. Cloud storage services take all these threats away from your data and make it extremely reliable and consistently available for you. Your data is saved at multiple highly secured locations. So there’s no threat of any power failures or natural disasters to all of them at the same time.

4. Global Data Connectivity

Many small businesses work with remote teams that need to access data from a centralised location. Cloud storage services give you the ability to grant access to as many users as possible anywhere in the world. You can also manage data rights for different users to ensure proper security. All the changes that are made to the data are completely synced together, giving you the most up to date version of your data. This, of course is a major advantage that you cannot get from your own storage device.

5. Enhanced Accessibility

Unlike local storage devices, cloud storage services can be accessed from anywhere in the world using a number of different devices. Apart from the regular PC, you can also directly access your cloud data with your smartphone and tablets. So unlike local storage, if you need to access a particular piece of data from your smartphone, you do not need to carry it with you all the time. You can simply access it whenever you need and delete it from your smartphone storage as soon as your need is fulfilled.

6. Reduced Infrastructure Cost

Managing a data backup system requires huge investments both in terms of man power and technology. Backup systems also demand additional energy costs as they need to run round the clock. However, by using a cloud storage service, you get rid of a number of infrastructure needs as well. You do not need to employ dedicated professionals to look after your data security and management. You also don’t need to spend extra money on computers and backup servers to store your data. All this can lead to substantial cost savings in the long run and add to the overall profitability of your business.

7. Environmentally Friendly Impact

A strong reason for using the modern cloud based storage services is the positive impact that they have on the environment. Many leading cloud storage companies intentionally employ environment friendly power generation methods for their storage units. Environment friendliness is one of their major considerations while making purchases for their infrastructure as well. Moreover, when you shift your local storage to a cloud service, you effectively save tons of energy that would’ve been consumed throughout the year. When you apply this scenario to hundreds (sometimes even thousands) of cloud storage clients, you can naturally understand the positive impact it will have on the overall environment through reduced power consumption and efficient energy usage.

Cloud storage has become an essential need of small businesses in today’s fast moving business environment. As a business owner, you should look to invest your energies on your most productive activities.